Ben Stokes ready to come out of retirement for Cricket World Cup 2023 - Reports

Ben Stokes is prepared to make his comeback in the ODIs from retirement to help England defend their World Cup title.

England Test captain Ben Stokes is willing to get back to the England ODI team to help them defend the title in India if he is asked by Jos Buttler.

Ben Stokes, who suffers from a knee injury, earlier said that he would not be returning to the team and will undergo surgery for his troubling knee during this time. However, according to Telegraph Sport, Stokes is ready to return to the ODI team for the World Cup, even if it means he must sit out of the Indian Premier League 2024 for his rehab.

Ben Stokes represents Chennai Super Kings in the IPL and he has a contract of Rs 16.25 crore. The all-rounder is willing to take the risk of missing the whole season for his rehab if he is needed by the England team.

Stokes will feature as a specialist batter

If Ben Stokes is making a return to the ODI side, he might not get back to bowling immediately. Since it will be difficult for him to bowl because of his knee injury, Stokes might play as a specialist batter in the middle-order for England.

Notably, Ben Stokes was the player of the final of the 2019 Men’s World Cup. He also scored a half-century against Pakistan in the last year’s T20 World Cup final in Melbourne.

The teams participating in the World Cup have a deadline of 5th September to submit their squad. However, they can make changes to the squad until September 27. Each team is allowed to pick 15 members for the final squad.

It will be interesting to see if Ben Stokes gets back to the ODI team and whom he will replace. Also, in another turn of events, England management is hoping to see Jofra Archer in the World Cup squad. The pacer is still in his recovery and is not 100 percent yet. England is ready to make him play only in important matches.

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